Corn-planter.



l l W No. 778,109. PATENTED B11020, 1904.

F.P.OALLAHAN.

' 001m PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1903- N0 MODEL 2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

8" umtfoz Witvmaoaa No 778,109. PATENTED DEG. 2.0, 1904. P. P. GALLAHAN.

00m PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1903.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

gimme/11oz I N0 MODEL.

' qbduwm Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. GALLAHAN, GRAF, IOWA.

'CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 778,109, dated December20, 1904. Application filed March 19, 1903. Serial No. 148,578.

T aZZ whom, itmay concern:

Be it known that I, F ANK P. GALLAHAN, a

I citizen of the United States, residing at Graf,

in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Corn-Planters; and, I do hereby declare thefollowing to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art-to which it'ap-v pertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to corn-planters, and

i has for its object to provide positive means for automaticallydropping corn at regular intervals and in parallel rows and at the sametime to furnish visible marks to direct the driver both as to the rowsand the place Where the corn has been dropped in the parallel rows.

I planting at regular. intervalsln A further object is to provide simpleand effective means wherebyall ,theirregularities of the soil, togetherwith the initial droppingat the beginning of the'rows, may be providedfor under all circumstances'and the parallel rows easily and readilyaccomplished;

The details of construction whereby these and other objects are,successfully accomplished are'fully set out in the followingspecification when read in connection with the drawings accompanying thesame.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved corn-planter. Fig.--2.i's'a perspective view of the main frame and theswinging supplemental framewith the latter shown slightly raised above the vmain frame. Fig.- 3 isa perspective of the axle and drive-wheel with means for throwing theWheel into and out of engagement with the axle. Fig. 4 is a sectionthrough the axle, thimble, and drive' wheel with parts cut away. Fig. 5is a perspective view of a collar attached to the axle with the meansfor attaching the lever that operates the drive-wheel. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the under side of a portion of the stationarysupplemental frame, show' denote corresponding parts in each of thefigso that each wheel may turn independent of the other, and when thewheelsare reversed the axle will cease to rotate. Upon the axle 8 isrigidly secured a thimble 12, (shown in Fig. L) and upon and around thisthimble and the axle is set a drive-wheel lei, adapted to be rotated byfriction upon the thimble 12.

- J ournaledto the upper side bars of the frame is a shaft 15, uponwhich rotates a segmental gear-wheel 16. The periphery of this wheel isprovided with a cog or toothed section 17 and the hub 18 of this wheelis provided with cogs 19, into which the gears 13 of the drive-Wheel 14mesh and rotate the wheel 16. These cogs areof suificient length topermit the drive-wheel 14 to bemovedalong the axle when the wheel 1 1 isout of engagement with the thimble on the axle and still remain in Imesh with the cogs 1,9.v

The stationary supplemental frame 26, which is secured to the under sideof the main frame 2, has bearings 27 at each end-thereof. In

these bearings is journaled a shaft 20, which extends to considerabledistance upon both sides of the framefor' the purpose presently to bedescribed and is rotated by the gearwheel 22, rigidly secured thereon.This wheel is rotated by its engagement with the wheel 16. The wheel 22is provided with twice the number of cogs 18 that are upon the peripheryof the segmental wheel 16, so that when the wheel 16 is rotated it willrotate the wheel 22 half-way around,and bymeans hereinafter describedthe cogs 17 on the wheel 16 will be brought into engagement with thesame cogs 18 on the wheel 22 at each revolution, and

thereby control the dropping of the seed.

For the purpose of operating the seeding mechanlsm and also the marker,which indicates where the corn has been dropped in each hill, the outerends of the shaft are provided with beveled gears 25. At right angles toand preferably beneath the main frame 2 is secured a stationarysupplemental frame 26. This stationary supplemental frame consists oftwo parallel bars 28, curved at the center 29 over the wheel 22. Theouter ends of the bars 28 are bent outwardly to form the bearings 30 forshafts 32. Upon each of the shafts 32 is set a beveled gear 33, adaptedto mesh into the beveled gear 25. Outside of the bearings 30, at theforward end of the shaft 32, is attached a wheel 35. and near thecircumference of the wheel, on the side, is a pin 36. To the pin 36 ispivoted a pitman 38, provided with a loop 39 at its outer end. In theseedboX may be a slide, (not shown,) which is provided with a bent arm40, projecting out from the seedboX 42 and adapted to engage in the loop39 of the pitman 38. It will be seen that at each revolution of thewheel the slide in the seedbox will be drawn out and forced in by thepitman 38, thereby dropping one hill of corn at each revolution of thewheel 35. On the opposite end of the shaft 32 is set a wheel 45, towhich is attached a marker-arm '46. This marker-arm is formed in twoparts 47 and 48. (See Fig. 7.) The part 47 is hinged to the part 48 ashort distance below its upper end and is perforated near the top,through which a rod 49, attached to the part 48, projects. The rod 49 isprovided with a stop 50 at its outer end, and between the stop 50 andthe end of the part 47 is a coiled spring 51. The object of thisconstruction is to provide means for the marker 46 to yield whenever itstrikes any hard substance, and thus prevent it from being broken. Themarkerarm is adjustably attached to the wheel 45 by means of clip-bolts44. This arm extends downward to a little below the base of the shoepresently to be described. As the wheel 45 is rotated the marker-arm 46will turn with the wheel and at each revolution strikethe ground atright angles to the travel of the machine and mark the place Where thecorn has been dropped.

For the purpose of arresting the rotation of the gears 25, and thus staythe seeding, the wheel 16 is perforated, and in the perforation isrigidly fastened a pin 52, which projects out at right angles a shortdistance on both sides of the wheel 16. To the underside of one of thebars 28 of the stationary supplemental frame 26 there are suspendedlever-arms 53, one on each side of the wheel 22. At one end of thislever 53 is an arm 54, which projects upward and at right angles and isadapted to engage the pin 52. The other end of the lever 53 is bent at55 and is provided with a lug 56, adapted to engage in a slot 57 in thehub of each of the gear-wheels 25 and lock the wheels 25 in theirrotation.- When the wheel 16 is rotated and the first cog 17 next to thepin 52 commences to engage with the cog 18 on the wheel 22, the pin 52will come in contact with the arms 51-, which will partially rotate thelever-arms 53 and will draw the lugs 56 out of engagement with the slots57 on the hubs of the wheel and permit them to be rotated and alsopermit the wheel 22 to be rotated by thewheel 16. It will be seen thatthe cogs 17 on the wheel 16 will engage one-half of the cogs on thewheel 22 at each revolution of said wheel 16 and will always commence tocome into mesh at exact opposite sides of the wheel 22.

The seeding mechanism is constructed entirely independent of the mainframe of the machine and has no connection with the d raft, but isforced alongin front of the machincby the means hereinafter described.Zlt consists in the shoes or furrow-openers 60, one upon each side, uponwhich are set the seedboxes 42. The seedboxes are rigidly connectedtogether by a bar 62. There are also braces 63 attached to the bar 62and united to the forward end of the shoes; also, braces 64 run from theend of the shoes to the seedboxes 42. To the bar 62 is loosely attachedtwo arms 68, which extend backward and are rigidly secured to the shaft15. Upon the shaft 15 is attached an operatinglever7() for rotating theshaft 15 to raise the shoes and seeding mechanism.

Upon the shaft 15 and the stationary supplemental frame is set the usualsector-plate 65, and to the lever is attached a spring actuated dog orpawl 66, so that when the lever is thrown backward to raise the seedingmechanism the dog will engage with the sector-plate and hold the seedingmechanism at the height desired.

From the above construction it will be seen that the bar 62, shaft 15,and connectingarm 68 form a swinging supplemental frame which is alwaysabove the main frame and which when raised by the lever 70 swings withthe shaft 15 as fulcrum.

It will be seen as the arms 68 are loosely attached to the bar 62 thatwhen the lever 70 is drawn backward the shaft 15 will be rotated and bythe arms 68 the seeding mechanism will be raised practicallyperpendicular and without in any manner tilting the main frame ofthemachine and entirely independent of the machine whenever it isnecessary to pass an obstruction, turn a corner, or for whateverpurpose. It will also be seen that the seeding mechanism is operated byitself and is independent in its movements of the main frame and thatthe wheel 22 is never disturbed and will always remain in mesh or inproper position for mesh with the wheel 16. It will further be observedthat the draft is not attached to the seeding mechanism, but the wholeseeding mechanism is forced forward from the shaft 15 by the engagementof the arms 68 with the bar 62.

For the purpose of marking the land, whereby the driver will be able toguide his team V 14 in and out of engagement with the thimble lugs 85upon its opposite sides.

with one animal on each side of the marked line, there is attached tothe rearend of the machine a marker 72 in the following manner:Betweenthe side bars of the main frame, near the rear, is placed across-bar 74, and upon this bar and the rear of the cross-bar or frame 4is journaled the marker-shaft 75, which is bent at right angles, and tothe outer. end is secured the marker 72. To the front end of the shaft75 is secured a wheel 76, provided with two crescent-shaped slots 77.Against the. cross-bar 74 is pivoted a lever 78, provided with holes 79,one near the lower end below the frame and the other about the samedistance above the frame. In these holes is loosely attached rods 80,which engage with the slots 77, one in eachslot. It will'be seen that byoperating lever 78 the marker 72 may be rotated to mark from eithersideof the planter and will mark at midway between the rows contiguous tothe rows planted.

For the purpose of movingthe drive-wheel 12 upon the axle 8 and forotherwise controlling the action of the drive-wheel the hub 82 of thewheel is grooved at 83, and within this groove is loosely fastened aband 84, carrying Around the axlel8 is also loosely fastened a collar86. and provided with lugs 88 upon its opposite sides. The lugs 88 and85 are connected together by bars 90, one on each side opposite. Betweenthe'collar 86 and the hub 82' there is rigidly fastened 'upon the axle acollar 92, provided witha groove 93, and within this groove is looselysecured a ring 94, carrying lug 95 upon one side. To this lug 95 ispivotally secured a lever ,96, forked at its lower ends and extendingdownward upon opposite sides of the collar-92 and widened at 97, asshown in Fig. 3. For the purpose of rotating the wheel 14 withoutrotating the axle 8 there is attached to the hub 82 of the wheel 14 aratchet 98, and upon the lever 96'is secured a pawl 99, adapted toengage with the teeth upon the ratchet 98, and when the lever 96 isdrawn over toward the Wheel, drawing it out of engagement with thethimble 12,-the wheel 14 may be operated by thelever 96 operating thepawl 99 against the ratchet 98, and thus rotating the wheel 14.

The manner of operating my device is substantially as follows: The seedis placed in the seedboxes and the driver grasps the lever 96 and pushesit away from the wheel 14, which causes the part 97 to engage with thehub of i the wheel and forces the wheel onto the thimble-12. The team isthen started, and the rotation of the axle 8 rotates the wheel'l4, whichin turn rotates the wheel 16 by the engagement of the cogs 13 of thewheel 14 with the cogs 19 of the part 21 of the wheel 16. When the cogs19 on the wheel 16 next to the pin 52 are about to engage with the cogson the wheel 22, the pin 52 will come in contact with the arms 54 on thelever-arms 53 and will partly rotate the levers suflicientlyto draw thelugs 56out of engagement with the slots 57 in the hubs of the wheels 25and permit them to be rotated at the same time the wheel 16 rotates thewheel 22. The rotation of the wheel 16 will also rotate the wheel 22one-half way around, and as the wheel 22 is fixed upon the shaft thebeveled gears 25 will be rotated, and at the same time the wheels willalso be rotated and the slides drawn out tocause the seed to drop, andwhen the rotation of the wheel 35 is completed the slides will have beenpushed back. At the same time that the seed is dropped the Wheels willbe rotated and the marker 46 as the team advances will mark across atright angles to the place where the corn has been dropped in both rows.As the team advances the marker 72 will mark the line along the landparallel with the corn that has been planted and at the middle of theparallel rows to be planted on the return trip of the planter. WVhen theends of the rows are reached, the driver throws the lever 96 in anopposite direction, which releases the engagement of the wheel 14 withthe thimble 12 and stops the rotation of. the said wheel 14. Hethen'grasps the lever and draws. it backward, which raises the shoes andthe seeding mechanism entirely off of the ground without any tilting ormovement of the main frame and independent of the main frame. When thedriver has made the turn and if he finds that the shoes and the droppingmechanism are not in proper position to drop the corn, he

advances the carrying wheels 10-until the dropping mechanism is inproper position. If the driver then finds that when the shoes are inproper position for dropping the wheel 22 is not in proper engagementwith wheel 16, so that immediately upon thestarting of the team thedropping mechanism will commence operating, he grasps the lever 96 androtatesthe wheel 14 by the engagement of the pawl 99 with the ratchet98, which will rotate the wheel 14, and thus will rotate the wheel 16until it will come in the proper place for engagement with wheel 22,then the driver by said lever 96 brings the wheel 14 into engagementwith the thimble 12 and starts his team, and immediately upon theadvance of the team-the dropping mechanism will commence to operate. Theteam is then driven with one animal oneach side of the line that themarker 72 has made when-the two former parallel rows were planted. Thedriver also at the time when the team is started turns the lever 78 inthe opposite direction, which throws the marker 72 on the opposite sideof the machine in a position to mark the ground for a guide to thedriver on his return planting. It will be seen that if the groundis'un-.

even then the correction of the dropping mechanism may always beeffected in the same manneras at the initial of the row. It will also beseen that as each carrying-wheel may turn independent of the other andindependent of the axle in one direction if one wheel advances over anobstruction it will make no difference with the dropping mechanism, andif both wheels pass over some irregularities then the correction can bemade as hereinbefore stated.

It will be observed that the driver has the entire machine under hiscontrol and the soil is marked to indicate not only where the seed hasbeen dropped, but also a line which indicates the direction he is todrive his team and at all times can correct any irregularities in thedropping, whereby the corn can be planted practically in squares withalmost as much accuracy as though the ground were absolutely level.

The various details of construction set out and described herein may bevaried within wide limits and parts of the features may be adoptedwithout adopting it as a whole and still be within the spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a corn-planter,the combination of a main-frame having a draft connection secured at itsfront end and an axle journaled near its rear end, a swingingsupplemental frame pivotally mounted on and above said main framebetween the axle and the draft connection, a seeding mechanism securedto the front free end of said supplemental frame, and means for raisingthe seeding mechanism above and independent ofthe main frame and of thedraft connection.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination of a main frame having a draftconnection secured at its front end and an axle jonrnaled near its rearend, a swinging supplemental frame having its rear end journaled in themain frame between the axle and the draft connection with its front freeend disposed above the main frame, a seeding mechanism secured to thefront free end of said swinging supplemental frame, and a lever-armextending from the rear journaled end of the swinging supplemental framefor raising the seeding mecl anism above and independently of the mainframe and its draft connection.

3. In a corn-planter, the combination of a main frame having a draftconnection secured at its front end and an axle journaled near its rearend, a swinging supplemental frame having its rear end journaled in themain frame between the axle and the draft connection with its front freeend disposed above the main frame and having its downward movementlimited thereby, a seeding mechanism secured to the front free end ofsaid supplemental frame, and means extending from the journaled endthereof for raising the seeding mechanism above and independently of themain frame and its draft connection.

4c. In a corn-planter, the combination with a main frame having a draftconnection and an axle having carrying-wheels, of a seeding mechanismmounted above the main frame forward of the axle and having its downwardmovement limited by the main frame, means for raising the seedingmechanism above the main frame independently thereof and of the draftconnection, and means whereby the seeding mechanism is impelled by theframe in front of the carrying-wheels and independently of the draft.

5. In a corn-planter. a main frame, an axle, carrying-wheels, adriving-wheel, a seeding mechanism mounted above the frame for and ofthe axle, connections between the drivewheel and the seedingmechanismfor operating the latter, a shaft pivoted in the frame in advance of theaxle and connected with the seeding mechanism, means for attaching thedraft to the main frame without connection with the seeding mechanism,and a lever on the shaft for rocking the latter to raise the seedingmechanism above and imlepemlent of the main frame.

6. In a corn-planter, the combination with a main frame having a draftconnection and an axle having carrying-wheels, of a seeding mechanismmounted above the main frame forward of the axle and capable of beingraised above the main frame independently thereof and of the draftconnection.

7. In a corn-planter, the combination with a main frame having an axleand carryingwheels, and a draft connection at its forward end, of aseeding mechanism mounted above the main frame and connected therewithin the rear of the draft and in front of the axle, means for raising theseeding mechanism above the main frame independently thereof and of thedraft connection, a drive-wheel upon the axle, a segmental gear-wheeldriven by the drive-wheel, mechanism in engagement with the segmentalgear-wheel and the seeding mechanism for operating the latter, meansengaging the seeding mechanism to lock it against operation, and meanson the segmental gear-wheel cooperating with the said looking means todisengage it from the said operating mechanism.

8. In a corn-planter, a main frame, a rotating axle, carrying-wheels, aseeding mechanism supported on top of the main frame, a shaft attachedto the main frame, arms rigidly attached to the shaft and engaging theseeding mechanism, and a lever for operating the shaft to raise theseeding mechanism above and independent of the main frame.

9. In a corn-planter, the eon'ibination with a main frame having a draftconnection at its front end, of a swinging supplemental frame carrying aseeding mechanism, connected with the main frame in the rear of thedraft and capable ofbeing swung upwardly independently of the main frameand the draft, a rock,- shaft journaled in the main frame in the rear ofthe seeding mechanism and having a rigid connection with the latter, andmeans including the rock-shaft for raising the frame carrying theseeding mechanism. e

10. In a corn-planter, the combination with a main frame having a draftconnection at its front end, of a swinging supplemental frame carrying aseeding mechanism and mounted above the main frame in the rear of thedraft, adriving mechanism for the seeding mechanism, a rock-shaftjournaled in the frame, a connection between the rock-shaftand theseeding mechanism, saidshaft constituting a journal for one member ofthe said operating mechanism and also including means for raising theframe carrying the seeding mechanism.

11. In a corn-planter, a main frame, means for'attaching the draft tosaid frame, an axle, carrying-wheels, a drive-wheel upon the axle, ashaft in front of the axle, a segmental gear- -wheel journaled on theshaft and driven by the drive-wheel, a swinging frame carrying a seedingmechanism connected with the main frame in the rear of the draftattachment and adapted to be advanced by its connection with the frame,means connected with the segmen.

tal gear-wheel for operating the seeding mechanism, and means includingthe shaft for raising the frame carrying the seeding mechanism.

12. In a corn-planter, .a main frame, means for attaching the draft tothe main frame, an axle, carrying-wheels, a driving-gear upon the axle,a segmental gear-wheel driven by the driving-gear, a seeding mechanismpivoted to the main frame and capable'of being raised thereabove anddriven by its connection to said frame, a lever for raising the seedingmechanism wlthout movement of the mam frame, and means engaging thesegmental gear-wheels to operate the seeding mechanism.

13. In a corn-planter, a main frame, a draft attachment secured to saidframe, a rotating axle, carryingwheels, a driving-gear on the axle, asegmental gear-wheel driven. by the driving-gear, a seeding mechanismhaving a swinging movement relative to the main frame and supportedthereby, a gear-wheel driven by the segmental gear-wheel, connections between said gear-wheel and the seeding mechanism to operate the latter todrop the grain at regular intervals, and means for raising the seedingmechanism without raising its operating'mechanism, the drive-wheel orthe main frame.

14. In a corn-planter, a main frame, adraft attachment secured to theframe, a rotating axle, carrying-wheels, a drive-wheel, a segmentalgearwheel driven by the drive-wheel, a seeding mechanism pivoted to theframe and adapted to be raised without movement of the main frame, ashaft attached-to said frame, a

gear-wheel upon the sh aft adapted to be driven tions between thelastmentioned gear-wheels and the seeding mechanism for operating thelatter. I

15. In a corn-planter, a main frame, an axle having a drive-wheelmounted thereon and adapted to be frictionally driven thereby, a seedingmechanism, ad junctive mechanism between the seeding mechanism and thedrivewheel for operating the said seeding mechanism, means for throwingthe drive-wheel out of frictional engagement with the axle, meanscooperating with the drive-wheel for advancing the seeding mechanismwhen the drivewheel is thrown out of engagement with the axle, and meansfor raising the seeding mechanism independent of its operating mechanismand of the main frame.

16. Ina corn-planter, a main frame, an axle wheel to advance the seedingmechanism when the drive-wheel is out of operative relation with theaxle.

17. In a corn-planter, a main frame, an axle, carryingwheels, adrive-wheel upon the axle, a shaft journaled in the main frame, asegmental gear-wheel journaled on said shaft and driven by thedrive-wheel, a seeding mechanism, means connected with and driven by thesegmental gear-wheel for operating the seeding mechanism, meanscarriedby said operating mechanism for the seeding mechanism for lockingthe latter against operation, means carried by the segmental gear-wheelfor releasing said locking means, and means for raising the seedingmechanism with the shaft as an axis without raising the operatingmechanism or the main frame.

, 18. In a cornplanter,a main frame, an axle, carrying wheels, a drivewheel, a seeding mechanism, a shaft journaled to said frame, agear-wheel on each end of the shaft, a supplemental stationary frameattached transversely to the main frame, and alocking mechanism attachedto the supplemental frame and engaging the gear-wheels on the ends ofthe shaft to prevent dropping of the corn only when the drive-wheel isin operative engagement with the axle.

19. In a corn-planter, the combination with a mainframe having an axleand carryingwheels and a draft connection at its forward end, of aseeding mechanism-mounted above the frame and connected therewith in therear of the draft, a drivewheel upon the axle,-a

segmental gear driven by the drive-wheel, mechanism in engagement withthe segmental gear-wheel and the seeding mechanism for operating thelatter, means engaging the seeding mechanism to lock it againstoperation, and means on the segmental gear'-wl1eel cooperating with saidlocking means to disengage it from the said operating mechanism,substantially as set forth.

20. In a corn-planter, a main frame, a draft attachment secured to saidframe, a rotating axle, carrying-Wheels, a drive-wheel, a segmentalgear-wheel driven by the drive-wheel, a seeding mechanism pivoted to themain frame and adapted to be raised without move-- ment of the frame, ashaft attaehed to the frame, a gear-wheel upon the said sh aft adaptedto be driven by the segmental gear-wheel, a gear-Wheel upon each end ofthe said shaft, and a lock adapted to engage the gear-wheels upon theends of the shaft, and segmental wheels to prevent the dropping of theseed when the gear-wheel upon the shaft is out of engagement with thesegmental gear-Wheel.

21. In a corn-planter, a main frame, carrying-wheels, a rotating axle, adrive-wheel on the axle, a segmental gear wheel rotated by thedrive-Wheel, a shaft journaled to the main frame, a gear-wheel upon saidshaft, a supplemental stationary frame, a marker-shaft, and

means connected with the first mentioned shaft for operating themarker-sha ft to mark the soil at the place of the dropping of the seed.

22. In acorn-planter, a main frame, an axle, carrying-wheels, astationary supplemental frame secured transversely to the main frame, ashaft pivoted to each end of the said stationary supplemental frame, ayielding marker attached to the shaft, and means for rotating the shaftto operate the marker.

23. In a corn-planter, a main frame, carrying-wheels, a rotating axle, adriving gearwheel upon the axle, means for engaging and disengaging thedriving-wheel with the axle, a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be drivenby the drive-wheel, a shaft journaled to the frame, a gear-wheel uponthe shaft adapted to be rotated by the segmental gear-wheel, a gear uponeach end of the shaft, a dropping mechanism, and means connected withthe said gear-wheels for operating the dropping mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two snl seribing witnesses.

FRANK I CALLAllAN.

Witnesses:

M. M. GADY, K. M. DoLAN.

